Make sure to bring a camera for this event.  (Photo: Justin Velgus)

Aoba Festival Suzume Odori

The Sparrow Dance of Sendai livens up the streets

Justin Velgus   - 1 min read

Each May, Sendai celebrates its own festival: the Aoba Matsuri.

One major draw of the festival is Suzume Odori, or the Sparrow Dance. The dance itself has been passed down for centuries. It is arguably more popular than ever with classes, clubs, online videos, and even smartphone apps available to satisfy both amateur and professional. The dance was created in the early 1600s by stone masons of the once standing Aoba Castle as a form of entertainment. The popular fan and jumping dance can often be seen at festivals throughout the year but is best enjoyed at the Aoba Festival. At this time you can see some of the 2000 entertainers almost anywhere you look.

Check out stages and dedicated areas around downtown, view the stage competition across from Kotodaikoen (Kotodai Park), or best of all, stand along the parade route to see endless numbers of performers file past.

Justin Velgus

Justin Velgus @justin.velgus

Justin Velgus (ジャスティン ベルガス) is the Miyagi Prefecture expert for Japan Travel and a long-term contributor since 2012 with a focus on the Tohoku region.  Justin has written extensively for JT, and other publications such as VisitMiyagi and Sake Today, amassing over 350 published articles...